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eachdraidh2014-06-05 06:26 pm
oo1 ★ video ★ seelie + unseelie
( Through the locket Merlin looks a little ... well, weary, if we're honest. It's not necessarily the same weariness of a young man who's been put through his paces physically (even though the recent rescue mission took it out of him), rather the slightly greying skin tone that indicates late nights, hard floors, and an over-active imagination. The only problem is that this time it's not his imagination that's to blame: it's everything else - it's this reality - that has him unable to stay still. Call it an over-abundance of nervous energy ...
That's actually only got worse since finding Arthur and Lancelot. Merlin's not exactly unused to having strangeness heaped on him but he's still uncertain about the whole thing: Lancelot died the last time he saw him, for starters, and yet here he is with no memory of it. It doesn't add up, and a simple "well, it's magic" isn't good enough for him. Merlin needs answers. He also needs to find out if only the three of them crossed over to the new realm, but asking the network seems too dangerous. Drawing attention to Guinevere, for example, if Morgana is lurking in a new and improved forest hovel, is exactly the opposite of what he wishes to do. Better handle this one with a bit more subtlety.
Still. His niggling doubts haven't kept him indoors on such a pleasant day - not least because outside he feels a little less like he's under scrutiny from every angle. It was the same in Camelot, he realises, if not for slightly different reasons, although he supposes the punishment for discovery may very well end up the same. He hopes not to find out. From his surroundings it should be clear that Merlin's ventured into a patch of thin woodland, and right now he's knelt over a frothy-flowered cluster that looks a lot like a yarrow plant.
He peers into the locket for a moment (as though uncertain it's actually working). )
... Hello?
( He frowns, then taps it a couple of times, before deciding that he may as well continue. He angles it so that the "yarrow" is in view. )
Does anyone know what this is? I'm looking for yarrow, but I'm - um. Not really familiar with what's poisonous and what's not, here.
( The physician's bag he's wearing over his shoulder slips forwards into view - Gaius' bag, for the Camelot bunch, who should be able to recognise it immediately. He'd been out collecting dock leaves when he'd been whisked away to the Drabwurld, and as Arthur had put it, he may as well go on and make himself useful. The locket moves over it slowly, getting a few different angles, before turning back to Merlin's face, where a self-deprecating smile has replaced the sceptical expression of moments ago. )
It doesn't look poisonous, but ...
( Hey, he doesn't look like an immortal warlock. )
Always better to be safe than sorry? And I don't want to end up giving someone a rash.
( But his smile grows broad at the thought of Arthur rubbing an itchy rash into God knows where. Come on, that's funny! )
... Accidentally. Anyway, let me know if you have any ideas; I'm all ears.
( He really does set himself up for the teasing, doesn't he. Merlin offers a little nod before the locket cuts off - and if he didn't give his name? Well. He's beginning to think that, at least with this crowd, a little namelessness might save him a lot of trouble. )
video;
[ so how nice has your day been? pretty good? well, not anymore. ]
video → private;
( Well, yes, this is probably his worst case scenario. Merlin would recognise that stony tone anywhere: he swallows once, willing himself to keep his own voice in check, even if the memory of the fomorroh is still fresh in his mild. There are many things he'll never forgive her for, but using him as a pawn to try to kill Arthur ...
He exhales slowly. )
... Morgana.
( But he's a little strained nonetheless, because he knew from the moment he did it that he'd never forget the look on her face when she realised. When she knew he'd poisoned her. )
Don't make this any harder for yourself than it already is.
( Being here, he means. Provoking Merlin, provoking Arthur and Lancelot ... Gods, this is a right royal mess already. )
video → private;
Harder for me? How could you possibly make it any harder for me? You are nothing, a stupid servant of little worth.
video → private;
( It's a laugh like broken glass, to be sure, and Merlin flinches away from it in the knowledge that he might have been able to prevent its breakage. )
I know. But the more effort you put into your hate ...
( Does she even know Arthur's here? Best not to say anything, just in case. He swallows once and his jaw sets. )
I am not afraid of you. You should know that.
video → private;
It must be easy to be brave when you are leagues away. [ there had been fear in his eyes as her magic choked the life from him. only a few moments more and the light would have faded completely. ] But I have no intention of scaring you, Merlin.